Leslie Mehta, a community advocate and former lead attorney for the ACLU of Virginia, is running for the Democratic nomination for Virginia’s First District congressional seat, which includes western Henrico County and portions of 14 other localities, mostly east of Richmond along the Eastern Shore. Mehta announced her candidacy on Thursday. Republican Rob Wittman is the district’s incumbent representative.

Democratic and Republican primary elections are scheduled for June 18.

Mehta is the former legal director of the ACLU of Virginia and has spent two decades in the legal field. In a campaign press release, she touted her efforts to seek “justice and equity for people in the face of discrimination.”

“I’m ready to run towards the fight because working people deserve someone who stands in their corner no matter what,” said Mehta. “All my life, I’ve never backed down from adversity – only strived to make things better for everyone who needs it.”

Mehta said she wants to focus on affordable healthcare, gun safety, and supporting women’s reproductive rights, as well as strong public schools.

“I strongly believe that even people with whom I disagree deserve their constitutional rights, protections, and opportunities,” said Mehta. “I’ve spent my career working to uphold that core American principle.”

One of Mehta’s stated goals is to create a more accessible healthcare system to ensure that all Virginians, regardless of their income or background, have access to the care they need. Mehta is a mother and an advocate for families living with rare diseases. She said that after her daughter, Brooke, died of Rett syndrome in 2021 that she was determined to find ways to fight back against the healthcare system.

“We need common sense to win out over chaos,” said Mehta. “It’s a major reason as to why I’m running.”

Mehta said she has successfully petitioned both major political parties in Congress for funding towards healthcare research. She also has served on the commissions of two Virginia governors and was recently appointed to the Rare Disease Council of Virginia by Republican Governor Glenn Youngkin. Mehta said that she is a strong advocate for women’s reproductive rights, common sense gun safety laws, protecting democracy, and affordable healthcare. – HC